$374,723Average Value$241Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
Future tennis stars train in this central Wilmington community
Airlie has its famed gardens, and downtown has its beloved riverwalk. What attracts people to Wilmington's Empie Park neighborhood is its large tennis complex named in honor of a local legend. “People almost call it a public country club. It’s really a welcoming, humble place,” says Althea Gibson Tennis Complex manager Tari Ann Toro-Steinmetz. The popular facility is the main to-do in Empie Park, the neighborhood’s namesake green space. Tennis isn’t the only draw to this community that rests along the busy commercial corridor of U.S. Highway 17, about a mile from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. “It’s pretty centrally located. You’re 15 minutes from the beach, 10 minutes from downtown, and the new concert venue: The Live Oak Bank Pavilion,” says Toro-Steinmetz. The longtime Wilmington resident adds that Independence Mall and the Hanover Center, two retail hotspots, are conveniently within walking distance.
Less than a mile from Independence Mall
Whether running errands or shopping for fun, Empie Park residents are only a few blocks from the bustling stores along Highway 17 (Oleander Drive). There’s a constant flow of shoppers at the Hanover Center, anchored by a Harris Teeter, Homesense and Hobby Lobby. Residents can refuel with a cappuccino or smoothie from Drift Café. The local coffee shop chain features a bright dining area with sea foam green accents and cozy wooden booths. Dozens of national retailers such as Belk, Dillard’s and American Eagle are across the street at Independence Mall, which sees its highest foot traffic on Fridays and Saturdays. After working up an appetite, residents have various fast-casual eateries to choose from, like First Watch, Panera Bread and Cava. Local restaurants, including Little Loaf Bakery & Schoolhouse and La Brasa Mexican Taqueria and Restaurant, can be found on the other side of the neighborhood along the quieter Wrightsville Avenue. The street is dotted with longtime local businesses including The Coat of Arms Lounge, a casual spot for beer and pool, and Two Wheeler Dealer, the neighborhood’s full-service bike shop. “It’s been around for decades,” Toro-Steinmetz says.
For retail therapy, Empie Park residents can walk to Independence Mall.
Empie Park locals choose Harris Teeter to restock their pantries.
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Single-story homes surrounded by trees
The dense residential streets of Empie Park vary: from two-lane roads with a country feel to boulevards with wide, grassy medians and sidewalks. Tall pine trees tower over the Craftsman bungalows, cozy cottages and low-lying ranch-style homes that make up most of the architectural offerings. Two-story builds are hard to come by. Homes usually are three-bedroom, typically built between the 1950s and 1960s, resting on modestly landscaped yards of about a third of an acre or less. Driveways, either paved or gravel, are common, and some ranch-style homes have attached carports. Prices here are well below the Wilmington area average of $549,000, ranging from $300,000 to $525,000. There are also a handful of condo communities with two-bedroom units in the $200,000s. Potential buyers should note that this neighborhood has a risk of flooding, though it's lower than communities closer to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Cape Fear River. Hurricanes are also possible.
Some homes in Empie Park have cozy front porches.
Homes in Empie Park sit under mature oak trees.
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Train like Althea Gibson at Empie Park
The neighborhood’s namesake, Empie Park, draws visitors from across the city. It’s home to the Althea Gibson Tennis Complex, titled in honor of the tennis trailblazer who sharpened her skills as a teenager in Wilmington before becoming the first Black tennis player to win The French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in the 1950s. The complex features 24 lighted courts for neighborly matches, team practices and year-round tennis clinics. “It’s a gem of the city. You’ll find people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds here,” Toro-Steinmetz says. “If you’re not playing tennis, you’re walking around the park.” She also notes that the playground and dog park are very popular. The Cross City Trail, a 15-mile multi-use path that connects points of interest across Wilmington, passes through the park’s east side. It runs north to Anne McCrary Park, which offers a more natural setting with a large lake and overlook. Residents can join the Nir Family YMCA to access an indoor pool and gym.
The Cross City Trail surrounds the lake at Anne McCrary Park near Empie Park.
Nir Family YMCA offers daily activities for Empie Park residents.
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A repurposed streetcar line
Empie Park’s streetcar history makes it a walkable and bikeable neighborhood today. Once traversed by trolleys in the early 1900s, Park Avenue features a lighted paved path that courses through the center of the neighborhood, connecting to the Cross City Trail. Residents can see a preserved piece of the former streetcar line at the restored Audubon Trolley Station. The small concrete shelter topped with a green terra cotta tile roof is a last-of-its-kind landmark added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Driving is the primary way to get around the rest of Wilmington, with the major thoroughfares of Oleander Drive, College Road and Independence Boulevard close by. Downtown Wilmington is about 4 miles away, while Wilmington International Airport is about 6 miles away. Wrightsville Beach, a popular destination for Wilmington residents and seasonal visitors alike, is less than a 7-mile drive. Public transit is easy to use here, with four Wave Transit bus routes going through the neighborhood.
School halls once walked by a tennis legend
Empie Park is zoned for New Hanover County Schools. Winter Park Elementary School is about a mile from the neighborhood and earns a B rating from Niche. Williston Middle, closer to downtown, receives a B-minus. The school was formerly Williston High School, which professional tennis trailblazer Althea Gibson attended in the 1940s. Today, middle school students can follow in her footsteps, as nearly all local middle school tennis teams practice at the Althea Gibson Tennis Complex in Empie Park. John T. Hoggard High School has an A and is ranked the third-best public high school in Wilmington. Two popular private options are Cape Fear Academy and Coastal Christian High School, whose tennis teams also play in Empie Park.
Winter Park Elementary School serves children from Empie Park and the surrounding communities.
John T. Hoggard High School received an A on Niche.
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Empie Park Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Empie Park, Wilmington sell after 38 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Empie Park, Wilmington over the last 12 months is $204,995, down 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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